Gilbert covered the women’s five-kilometer course in 19 minutes flat to finish 31st in a field of 212 runners representing 20 colleges ranging from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division III.

Gilbert was the third fastest among Northwest Conference runners, trailing only Whitworth Pirates Christina Anderson and Elisabeth Spencer, who finished 21st and 22nd, respectively. Anderson was clocked in 18:49.10 and Spencer in 18:50.54.

Amber Roscicha of Portland State was the women’s winner in the Cardinal Division in a time of 17:46.70. She finished 18 seconds in front of Oregon State University’s Sandra Martinez, who placed second in 18:04.70.

Lauren Rice of Augsburg College, Minn., was the fastest NCAA Division III runner in 18:19.51, which was good for fifth place.

Whitman’s next two runners, senior Lori Mendelsohn and freshman Emily Williams, turned in personal-best times. Mendelsohn was clocked in 19:48.26 and finished 99th, and Williams ran 19:55.41 to place 105th.

Whitman’s top five runners averaged 19:22.76 and accumulated 295 points, good for 14th place in the division. The Missionaries finished just two points behind Central Washington’s 293 score.

Oregon State’s Beavers claimed the women’s team title with 28 points and an average time of 18:17.55. Boise State placed a distant second with 96 points and an 18:40.35 average.

Fourteen other Whitman women competed in Saturday’s race, led by sophomore Meghan Malloy, who finished 132nd in a time of 20:16.76. Five other Missionaries — Julia Wood, Jessica Lawrence, Alissa Becerril, Claire Baron and Allie Willson — finished under 21 minutes.

It was a less productive outing for the Missionary men’s team, which placed last in a field of 19 teams with an average time of 27:31.03 over 8 kilometers and totaled 465 points.

The University of Portland won the men’s Cardinal Division with a near-perfect 16 points — 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th places — and an average time of 24:45.78 that was nearly a minute faster than second-place Boise State.

Lars Erik Malde of Portland took the men’s individual title in 24:29.08. Pilots teammate Josh Gorecki was second in 24:39.42.

Senior Taylor Mesojednik was Whitman’s fastest runner, turning in a time of 26:42.04 for 67th place in a field of 169 men. Junior Joe Mayo was second for the Missionaries, finishing 79th in 27:00.43.